we're seeing trofrt r -- they're saying dzhokhar tsarnaev should be denied a defense attorney. what is the white house saying about this criticism. >> reporter: well, look, the white house believes that he should basically be tried as a citizen. he is an american citizen so they believe he should be tried in a civilian court. that is what they're saying at the point in time. as pete has been discussing all afternoon, he's going to be given the public safety option meaning he won't have his miranda rights read and be questioned for a pier idea of time. those law make rs are calling for him to be put into the class of enemy combatant which goes along with all of the things you just mentioned. they would like to see him treated essentially to give law enforcement officials more time to question him making the argument that he really is a danger in this case. so that is what they are arguing, as you point out the politics had been sort of put on the back burner for a time, chris. yesterday you hear the bipartisan praises of how this entire situation had been handled and now we're g